Superintendent Miller says snow-day waivers and school-aid reform needed to protect programs

Superintendent Dr. Miller told the Ohio County Board of Education on Feb. 9 that the district has used five built-in snow days and three non-traditional instructional days, leaving two remaining non-traditional days and prompting plans to seek a waiver from the state to avoid losing instructional time.

"We have used 5 snow days because those minutes are built into our calendar. We have used 3 non traditional instructional days, and we have 2 left," Dr. Miller said, adding that the district will "work with the state to see if they would consider giving us a waiver." He noted the hardship was statewide: "Because the entire state canceled school on those days."

Miller also briefed the board on a January presentation to the House of Delegates’ education committee by Rand researchers about potential changes to the state school-aid formula. She said the study’s findings centered on equity, adequacy and efficiency and that the current foundation formula emphasizes headcount rather than the higher costs tied to students with special needs or low-income backgrounds.

"The formula gives money based mostly on headcount rather than actual educational needs," Miller said, and she asked the board to understand the district’s local profile: Ohio County Schools has 4,582 students in pre-K–12, of whom 875 are identified with special needs and 2,584 are considered economically disadvantaged. She added the district has 21 English language learners.

Board members discussed the constitutional and legislative context, with one member stressing the West Virginia Constitution’s requirement that the Legislature provide for "a thorough and efficient system of free schools." Several board members said they plan stepped-up lobbying in Charleston to seek formula changes.

Why it matters: Dr. Miller tied staffing and program preservation — including career and technical education and special-education services — to adequate state funding. Without changes, she said, counties with shrinking enrollment and higher concentrations of high-need students may struggle to sustain services.

What’s next: The board agreed to continue outreach to state lawmakers and for board leadership to coordinate with the school-board association. The district will also pursue a waiver for the recent widespread snow cancellations if the state will grant it.